Characteristics of Gold and Its Mineralization Style in the Boulon Djounga Eastern Perimeter of Liptako Mining Company (Central Southwestern Niger)

The Boulon Djounga eastern perimeter is part of the Tiawa operating permit of the Société des Mines du Liptako (SML), located in the central southwestern part of Liptako (Niger). In this study, we used field data, Reverse Circulation (RC) surveys and chemical analyzes of gold to determine the characteristics of gold and its mineralization style. The eastern perimeter of Boulon Djounga is represented by a succession of metabasalts and metasediments both intersected by intrusions of quartz and dolerite dykes, and covered by sandstone and clayey rocks. Gold is present in low contents (0.00 - 0.30 ppm) in the sedimentary cover and in medium (0.30 - 1.00 ppm) or high contents (1.00 - 4.534 ppm) in the metasediments, and in the gray quartz veins and locally in the volcanics. It exists in a disseminated state or in a concentrated state in the surrounding areas in the form of discrete grains associated with sulphurous minerals (pyrite: FeS2, chalcopyrite: CuFeS2 or arsenopyrite: FeAsS). The presence of gold in the quartz veins, and the NE-SW and NW-SE orientations of the ore bodies suggest that the eastern Boulon Djounga gold mineralization would be established during a late magmatic extensive phase.

U-Pb SHRIMP Dating of Zircon from Quartz Veins of the Yangshan Gold Deposit in Gansu Province and Its Geological Significance

The Yangshan gold deposit is a super-large fine-grained disseminated gold deposit located in southern Gansu Province. Its metallogenic age has been determined by using the cathodoluminescence image and ion probe U-Pb dating techniques. It is found that zircons from quartz veinlet of the fine-grained disseminated gold ore show characters of magmatic origin with prism idiomorphism, oscillatory zoning and dominant Th/U ratios of 0.5-1.5. Three main populations of zircons are obtained, giving average 206Pb/238U ages of 197.6±1.7 Ma, 126.9±3.2 Ma and 51.2±1.3 Ma respectively. The first age corresponds to the K-Ar age of the plagiogranite dike, while the latter two ages indicate that buried Cretaceous and Tertiary intrusives exist in the orefield, suggesting that the Yangshan gold deposit was genetically related to the three magmatic hydrothermal activities. By contrast, zircons from coarse gold-bearing quartz vein in the mining area are much older than the host rock, indicating that the vein was formed earlier and was not contaminated by later magmatic fluids. It is concluded that the coupling of multiperiodic hydrothermal activities in the mining area has contributed a lot to mineralization of the Yangshan gold deposit.

REE geochemistry of auriferous quartz carbonate veins of Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit,Chitradurga schist belt,Dharwar Craton,India

REE composition of the carbonates of the auriferous quartz carbonate veins（QCVs） of the Neoarchean Ajjanahalli gold deposit.Chitradurga schist belt.Dharwar Craton,is characterized by U-shaped chondrite normalized REE patterns with both LREE and HREE enrichment and a distinct positive Eu anomaly.As positive Eu anomaly is associated with low oxygen fugacity,we propose that the auriferous fluids responsible for gold mineralization at Ajjanahalli could be from an oxygen depleted fluid.The observed positive Eu anomaly is interpreted to suggest the derivation of the auriferous fluids from a mantle reservoir.The location of Ajjanahalli gold deposit in a crustal scale shear zone is consistent with this interpretation.

The Potential of Quartzitic Veins in SW Cameroon for High-Purity Quartz

High-purity quartz (HPQ), the prime source of silica, is increasingly considered a strategic mineral in the world market because it is the raw material for special applications in high-tech industries owing to its unique physical and chemical properties. The expected growth in demand for HPQ implies that more sources have to be found. This is the primary motivation for this study which targets the Supe area, SW Region of Cameroon. The structural occurrences of quartz veins were mapped and samples collected. The chemical nature and textural features of these samples were subsequently analyzed by X-ray tomography, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and electron microprobe analysis (EMPA). Three deformation events, D1 - D3 are recorded. D1 is marked by the development of the strong S1 foliation defined by the gneissic layering and schistosity. D2 is a NE-SW ductile to brittle sinistral shear that controlled the formation of tension gashes that served as subsequent pathways for quartz-rich hydrothermal fluids to circulate and eventually precipitate quartz. The presence of rutile, tourmaline, and mica inclusions in the Supe veins affects the purity of the quartz. However, quartz can be treated to improve its quality. Taking into consideration the nine determinant trace elements used to classify HPQ, three (Li, P, and B) are below detection limits, Al concentrations are within the HPQ, quartz market standard, and average natural abundance;Ti values are high above all three standards in all except one sample, while Na, Ca, K, and Fe values fluctuate, thus classifying one of the samples as high purity quartz and the others as low purity quartz. These veins define tension gashes which usually occur in an echelon arrangement covering a large surface area, suggesting that more of such veins probably exist in the Supe area. Consequently, the quality and potential quantity of HPQ veins in this area suggest a high potential for HPQ exploration in the region.

Geology of the Structurally Controlled Quartz Vein Gold Mineralization in the Dikko Area, Part of Zungeru—Minna—Birnin Gwari Schist Belt, NW Nigeria

Dikko area, Niger State, North Central Nigeria falls within the Pan-African thermo-tectonic event which occurred in Nigeria as in other parts of West Africa with widespread effect on the mineralization of rejuvenated basement and geosynclinal trough deposits. The Pan-African Belt in Nigeria forms part of the Benin-Nigeria (Dahomeyan) shield which is regarded as the southern prolongation of the circumcratonic Pan-African belt of the West African Craton. Structurally controlled, gold-bearing quartz veins were measured and studied in the area from an extensive geological ground investigation. Field and petrographical studies indicate that the Neoproterozoic rocks constitute gneisses, amphibolite schist, amphibolites and migmatites. The amphibolites are intruded by pegmatites. The associated quartz veins are generally concordant with the main N-S regional structural trend. The lithological and structural studies carried out in these areas have demonstrated the relationship between structures and mineralization and/or lithology. The main characteristics of the gold mineralization in the area appear to indicate hydrothermal mineralization in connection with shear zones. This study allows us to predict that quartz veins in the amphibolite can be mined at a profit and a detailed geochemical and resource valuation needs to be carried out for the Au and associated Galena and Ag mineralization to fully exploit their economic potential.

A new type of Mo-bearing quartz vein by acid leaching:evidence from Dahu-Qinnan Mine,northern belt of the Xiaoqinling gold province,central China

Dahu-Qinnan molybdenum deposit,located in the northern part of the Xiaoqinling gold province,belongs to the Xiaoqinling-Waifangshan sub-zone of the eastern Qinling Mo-W metallogenic belt,central China.Molybdenite mineralization is associated with Au-bearing quartz veins.This paper is based on field observations and PIMA analytical data on the occurrences,and details textures and alteration patterns of Mo-bearing quartz veins in Dahu-Qinnan region.The Mo-bearing quartz veins exhibit friable with cream colored,vuggy,infilling texture and brecciated texture.The breccia clasts within Mo-bearing quartz veins are dominated by gneissic rocks of the Taihua Supergroup,and Mesozoic porphyritic granite dyke with stockwork and disseminated molybdenite mineralization.The breccias are replaced by clay minerals.Alteration associated with molybdenite-bearing quartz veins is characterized by K-feldspar(only in the breccias),sericite,sillicification(residual silica),kaolinite,smectite and anhydrite.Molybdenite with other sulfide minerals infills fissures and pore spaces in the quartz veins.As the results of above,and according to the observed geological events in the area and taking into account the geological setting,molybdenite-bearing quartz veins are likely to have been affected by late acid leaching.The precursor porphyry Mo ore,associated with porphyry granite dyke formed probably at ca.245--211 Ma during the continent-continenl collision of Qinling orogeny.

Gold Behavior in Weathering Products of Quartz Vein in Mintom Area South Cameroon(Central Africa)

Gold mineralization in Mintom area, south Cameroon was studied in a tropical forest setting using X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry (ICP/AES) and inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP/MS) respectively for the mineralogical and chemical data. The mineralization occurs in quartz veins in the archean Ntem complex of the vast Congo Craton in Central Africa. Gold distribution patterns were vertically studied in the different horizons of the weathering profile and in the different grain-size fractions of the materials sampled in the pit on down slope of the interfluve where the mineralization exists. The weathering profile consists of an upper, thin loose sandy-clayey horizon (P6) covered by a light humic horizon, a nodular horizon with lateritic nodules or blocks (P5), a gravel horizon (P4), a thin spotted horizon (P3) and a saprolite (P2) up to 1.4 m thick. The specific geochemical signature of the bedrock is not recognized in each horizon of the weathering profile. Some groups of elements, e.g., high SiO2 and low REE characterize quartz vein while Cr-Ni characterizes a basic rock like gabbro. The residual gold is concentrated at the base of weathering profile. Its concentration increases from the saprolite up to the gravel horizon and decreases in the surface horizons. However, the evolution of visible Au distribution is not the same for all grain-size fractions: 1) in the finest fraction, the Au content is only regular in spotted and gravel horizons;2) in the medium size fractions, the Au is in high content and greatly decreases from saprolite up to the spotted horizon and disappears in the upper horizons;3) in the coarsest fraction, Au content is found in the saprolite and the maximum Au content of the weathering profile is found in this layer just above the mineralized quartz vein. This observation shows that the Mintom residual gold comes from the quartz vein.

Characters of fluid inclusions in quartz veins in pyroclastic rock of Budate Group, Hailar Basin

It was adopted that the fluorescence microscope, Gas-Flow Heating/Freezing System, Laser-Raman Spect-roscopy, etc. are the multimedia techniques for analysing fluid inclusions of quartz veins in Budate Group, Hailar Basin. The results show that fluid inclusions in quartz veins are small(1～5 μm)monophase, two-phase(liquid+vapour)aqueous inclusions; the two-phase aqueous inclusions homogeniese to the liquid phase between 120～180℃, two dominant types for oil inclusions were determined in quartz veins:① the primary inclusions, almostly gas, measurement by Laser-Raman Spectroscopy show that both gas phase are enriched in CH4(94.50%～99.25%)and C6H6(0.75%～2.70%), under these conditions, inclusions may have come from juvenile fliud followingly the quartz veins formation. While the quartz veins exhibiting different striking luminescence has been proved by cathodoluminescence, it would be impossible to come from the deep magmas and strata. ② aqueous, liquid and two-phase(liquid+vapour)oil inclusions, belong to secondary hydrocarbon inclusions. The oil inclusions of this stage represent mainly the large scale of oil accumulation, located within the quartz microfracture.

Geology and Mineral Chemistry of Gold Mineralization in Mirge-Naqshineh Occurrence(Saqez,NW Iran):Implications for Transportation and Precipitation of Gold

The Mirge-Naqshineh gold district is situated at northwest of Iran with a NW-trending brittle- ductile shear zone. It is hosted by Precambrian meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanic units traversed by mineralized quartz veins. In terms of cross-cutting relationships and sulfide content three types of quartz veins are identified in the region. Among those, parallel to bedding quartz vein （type I） is the main host for gold mineralization. Gold is found in three different forms： 1） submicrometer-size inclusions of gold in arsenian pyrite, 2） as electrum and 3） in the crystal lattice of sulfides （pyrite, galena and chalcopyrite）. Six types of pyrite （Pyl-Py6） were identified in this ore reserve. Py3 coexists with arsenopyrite and contains the greatest As-Au concentrations. There is a negative correlation between the As and S contents in Py2 and Py3, implying the substitution of sulfur by arsenic. Pyrites and mineralized quartz veins were formed via metamorphic-hydrothermal fluid and reflect the gold-transportation as Au（HS）2 under reducing and acidic conditions. The gold precipitation mainly controlled by crystallization of arsenian pyrite during fluid/rock interactions and variation offO2. The volcanic host rock has played an important role in gold concentration, as Py3 in this rock contains inclusion of gold particles, but gold is within the lattice of pyrite in phyllite or other units.

Formation mechanism of breccia pipe type in Yixingzhai gold deposit

Based on the basic geological features of Yixingzhai gold deposit, the geological features, classification and relation to mineralization of breccia pipes were discussed by surveying the xenoliths and breccia's mineral composition, structure and construction, typical mineralization alteration phenomenon on field and microscopic anatomy in breccia pipes. And the ore-controlling mechanism and the formation mechanism of the blasting breccia pipes were investigated. The main conclusion shows that Hewan and Nanmenshan breccia pipes nearby the NW-striking deep fault are shaped earlier, belonging to the acidic siliceous ingredient production of ultra-hypabyssal magmatic in the late magma stage; Tietangdong and Nanmenshan breccia pipes that are shaped latter are the ultra-hypabyssal auriferous fluid production composed mainly of the skarn in the hydrothermal stage after the magma period. Both root in the unified deep magmatic chamber, belonging to differentiation derivatives at different stages in the deep magmatic chamber.

Timing of mineralization at the Shihu gold deposit in the middle segment of the Taihang Mountain, China

The Shihu gold deposit, located in the middlesouth section of the core of the Fuping mantle branch structure, is hosted in the Archean Fuping Group and adjacent to the quartz diorite porphyrite. The gold deposit is the only large gold deposit with reserves of more than 30 tons gold discovered in western Hebei Province so far. In order to constrain the timing of mineralization of this ore deposit, this paper focuses on the isotopic dating of zircon and pyrite. Zircons in gold-bearing quartz veins are magmatic in origin and no hydrothermal zircon has been found in such quartz veins, indicating that zircons were derived from the wall rocks. U–Pb ages of zircons fall mainly in the two domains: 2492 ± 82 and 136 ± 4 Ma, respectively,indicative of the contribution of the Fuping-Group TTG gneiss and Yanshanian igneous rocks, respectively. The Re–Os isotopic compositions of pyrites in the gold-bearing quartz veins yield an isochron age of 127 ± 31 Ma. Combined with other dating results, we suggest that the main metallogenic age of the Shihu gold deposit is 120–127 Ma.

Hydrothermal Zircon Geochronology in the Shangxu Gold Deposit and its Implication for the Early Cretaceous Orogenic Gold Mineralization in the Middle Bangonghu–Nujiang Suture Zone

As a typical orogenic gold deposit in Tibet,Shangxu gold deposit is located at the Bangong Lake–Nujiang River Metallogenic Belt in the south of Qinghai–Tibet Plateau.In this paper,zircon U-Pb dating,trace elements and Hf isotopic analysis were performed on Au-bearing quartz veins in the Shangxu gold deposit.Zircons from Au-bearing quartz veins can be divided into three types:detrital,magmatic,and hydrothermal zircons.There are two age peaks in detrital zircons:ca.1700 Ma and ca.2400 Ma.There are two groups of concordant ages including 157±4 Ma(MSWD=0.69)and 120±1 Ma(MSWD=0.19)in magmatic zircons,in whichεH f(t)value of ca.120 Ma from the magmatic zircons range from+8.24 to+12.9.An age of 119±2 Ma(MSWD=0.42)was yielded from hydrothermal zircons,and theirεH f(t)values vary between+15.7 and+16.4.According to sericite Ar-Ar age,this paper suggests that an age of 119±2 Ma from hydrothermal zircons represent the formation age of the Shangxu gold Deposit,and its mineralization should be related to the collision between Lhasa Block and Qiangtang Block.The metallogenic age is basically the same as the diagenetic age of Mugagangri granite,andεH f(t)value of hydrothermal zircon is significantly higher than that of the contemporaneous magmatic zircon,which indicates that there is a genetic relationship between the gold mineralization and the deep crust-mantle magmatism.

Geology and fluid inclusion of Wadi Sharis Neoproterozoic orogenic gold deposits in northwestern Yemen

The Wadi Sharis orogenic gold deposit in northwestern Yemen is related to the fault and shear zones vein at medium depth in the crust in the Neoprotcrozoic meta-sedimentary and meta-volcanosedimentary succes- sion of greenschist to amphibolite facies metamorphism. Three distinct fluid inclusion types have been identified in the gold-bearing quartz sulphide veins of the deposit： （1） type I： vapour-liquid two-phase （VH2O-LH2O ）, （2） type II ： three-phase CO2 （ VCO2 - LH2O - LCO2 ） and （3） type III： vapour-rich （LCO2 - VCO2 ） inclusions. Six analysis of individual fluid inclusion indicate the fluid inclusions comprise mainly of H2O and CO2. Forma- tion P-T conditions recorded by fluid inclusions in quartz crystals correspond to 180℃-380℃ and up to 130 MPa, as indicated by high-density CO2 bubbles （up to 0. 98 g/cm3 ） observed in some inclusions. The esti- mated crystallization pressures correspond to approximately 4-10 km of overburden, assuming a lithostatic load. The salinity ranges from 0 to 22 wt%. The deposit holds at 0.2-5 g/t Au and contains low-moderate salinity.

Deformation behavior and fluid action of quartz veins in the Xuelongshan metamorphic complex,Western Yunnan

The Xuelongshan metamorphic complex underwent Cenozoic sinistral strike-slip shearing and exhumation from deep to shallow in the southeast margin of the Tibet Plateau.We studied the deformation behavior and fluid action of quartz veins in the metamorphic complex in depth based on macroscopic observation,electron backscatter diffraction fabric,and fluid inclusion analysis.The mylonitic samples are characterized by strongly elongated and orientated porphyroclasts and a finegrained matrix with a shear strain of 2.4.The ultramylonitic samples are characterized by a strongly fine-grained matrix with a shear strain of 5.8.The{m}glide controls the quartz deformation in the mylonites and ultramylonites.As the dominant recovery mechanism,subgrain rotation dynamic recrystallization reduces the grain size and promotes rheological weakening.The porphyroclasts restrict the crystal orientation of the recrystallized quartz matrix.The mylonitic quartz veins have abundant single-phase and two-phase fluid inclusions.However,the ultramylonitic quartz veins have a few fluid inclusions,most of which are small and irregular toward the grain boundaries.The temperature and pressure of fluid activity in quartz veins are 550–500℃and 391–218 MPa for ultramylonitic quartz veins,with a depth of 14.2–7.9 km and 450–400℃and 236–91 MPa for mylonitic quartz veins,with a depth of 8.6–3.3 km.The deformation process changes the shape of fluid inclusions from mylonitization to ultramylonitization and causes fluid leakage,an increase in local fluid pressure at the boundary,and hydrolysis weakening,promoting lattice dislocation glide and recrystallization,which is directly related to regional continuous shear deformation and exhumation.

Geological structure, composition of ores and age of the Bamsk gold deposit, Amur region, Russia

The Bamsk gold-ore deposit is located in the Amur region, the Far East of Russia. It is confined to the Early Cretaceous volcanic-plutonic uplift of central type, located in the Stanov folded-clumpy Pre-Cambrian system. The deposit is presented by a series of gold-bearing quartz and carbonate-quartz vein-stringer zones. They are confined to the super-intrusive zone of the Nevachansk subvolcanic intrusion of sienite-porphyric composition. The mineralization is being controlled by zone of fractures developed in the autochthone of the Bamsk fault. Quartz, carbonates and sericite prevail in the composition of ores. The quantity of ore minerals doesn’t exceed 1%～5%. Pyrite, chalcopyrite, galena and native gold are widely spread. Sheelite, gold and silver tellurides, sulphobismuthites, acanthite, sphalerite and cinnabar are less developed. Four stages of mineralization have been distinguished. Gold-sulphide-sulphosalt ore with tellurides of gold and silver is productive for gold. The following set of elements is typomorphic for the ores of the deposit: Au, Ag, Cu, Bi, Mo, Pb and Sb(W1, Pb1, Mo)-Cu-(Ag, Bi, Sb, Mn, W2, Pb2)form the vertical series of zoning. Rocks, enclosing the mineralization are exposed to the processes of listvenitization-beresitization. The processes of gumbeization and argillization are less manifested. The age of the gold mineralization, determined by Rb-Sr method on ore-accompanying minerals, is 130.6 Ma.

An oxygen isotope study of quartz veins within eclogites from the Dabie terrane

The oxygen isotope composition of minerals from quartz veins and host eclogites in the Dabie terrane was measured in order to place geochemical constraints on the origin and transport of metamorphic fluid. The results are discussed together with structural and petrological relationships between quartz vein and wallrock. The quartz veins can be temporally classified into three groups: (1) synmetamorphic vein which would be formed prior to eclogite-facies recrystallization when they were exhumated from mantle depths to deep crustal levels; (2) early retrogressive vein which was formed in the early stage of eclogite exhumation subsequent to the recrystallization, the vein-forming fluid is still relevant to the eclogites; (3) late retrogressive vein which was formed in the late stage of eclogite exhumation from deep crustal to upper crustal levels, oxygen isotope fractionation between vein quartz and host eclogite significantly deviates from equilibrium values and the vein-forming fluid was principally derived from granitic gneiss hosting the eclogites. For the synmetamorphic vein, it appears that local advective transport of fluid is the predominant mechanism in the processes of vein precipitation; the scale of oxygen isotope homogenization within the veins is much larger than that within the associated eclogites. The vein-forming fluid would be derived from the exsolution of dissolved hydroxyls within eclogite minerals due to significant pressure decrease. Fluid flow prior to the eclogite-facies recrystallization and the early retrogression may occur mainly along pressure gradients.

Fluid Evolution and Scheelite Precipitation Mechanism of the Large-Scale Shangfang Quartz-Vein-Type Tungsten Deposit, South China: Constraints from Rare Earth Element(REE) Behaviour during Fluid/Rock Interaction

Unlike classic skarn-type scheelite deposits directly acquiring sufficient Ca2+ from surrounding limestones, all of the scheelite orebodies of the Shangfang tungsten(W) deposit occur mainly in amphibolite, and this provides a new perspective on the mineralization mechanism of W deposits. The ability of hydrothermal scheelite(CaWO4) to bind REE3+ in their Ca2+ crystal lattices makes it a useful mineral for tracing fluid-rock interactions in hydrothermal mineralization systems. In this study, the REE compositions of scheelite and some silicate minerals were measured systematically in-situ by laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry(LA-ICP-MS) to assess the extent of fluid-rock interactions for the Late Mesozoic quartz-vein-type Shangfang W deposits. According to the variations in CaO and REE among scheelite and silicate minerals, the amphibole and actinolite in amphibolite may be able to release large amounts of Ca2+ and REE3+ into the ore-forming fluids during chlorite alteration, which is critical for scheelite precipitation. Furthermore, an improved batch crystallization model was adopted for simulating the process of scheelite precipitation and fluid evolution. The results of both the in-situ measurements and model calculations demonstrate that the precipitation of early-stage scheelite with medium rare-earth elements(MREE)-rich and [Eu/Eu*]N<1. The early-stage scheelite would consume more MREE than LREE and HREE of fluid, which will gradually produce residual fluids with strong MREE-depletion and [Eu/Eu*]N>1. Even though the partition coefficient of REE is constant, the later-stage scheelite will also inherit a certain degree of MREE-depletion and [Eu/Eu*]N future from the residual fluids. As a common mineral, sheelite forms in various types of hydrothermal ore deposits(e.g., tungsten and gold deposits). Hence, the improved batch crystallization model is also possible for obtaining detailed information regarding fluid evolution for other types of hydrothermal deposits. The results from model calculations also illustrate that the Eu anomalies of scheelite are not an effective index correlated to oxygen fugacity of fluids but rather are dominantly controlled by the continuous precipitation of scheelite.